Preventive Care & Early Detection
When it comes to our dogs' health, it's always better to have diseases detected and diagnosed as early as possible. Preventing serious conditions that affect your dog's eyes, organs, and other important areas of the body or detecting them early so treatment can start as soon as possible is key to your pet's health and longevity.
Taking your dog to the vet regularly allows your veterinarian the opportunity to monitor your pet's overall health, check for the earliest signs of disease (when conditions are easiest to treat), and recommend appropriate preventive products for your furry friend.
Our vets understand you may have concerns about the cost of taking your dog in for a checkup when they seem perfectly healthy. However, you might save yourself the cost of expensive treatments in the future by taking a proactive approach to your dog's preventive care now.
Wellness Exams
Scheduling your dog's veterinary wellness exam is like taking your pup in for a physical. Similar to people, how often your dog should have a checkup depends on several factors, including their age and general health.
Annual wellness exams are typically recommended for healthy adult dogs, but puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with underlying or chronic health conditions should come in for more frequent checkups.
If you're wondering which of these timelines applies to your dog after reading the guidelines for puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs below, just ask your primary vet. They will likely be happy to provide advice based on your pet's individual circumstances.
Puppies 0 – 12 Months Old
Knowing when to take your dog to the vet is just as important knowing how often you'll need to schedule an appointment.
Is your canine companion under one year old? If so, they should see the vet once a month.
Your puppy will need several rounds of vaccinations to help protect them against common infectious diseases, including distemper, hepatitis, rabies, leptospirosis, parvo, and parainfluenza. Your puppy will receive these vaccines over 16 weeks so they will be protected against potentially dangerous illnesses.
The precise timing of your young pup's vaccinations will vary depending on your location (some parasites and other threats to your puppy's health are more prevalent at certain times of the year based on where you live), your dog's general health, and their lifestyle.
When your pooch is between 6 and 12 months old, our vets recommend having them spayed or neutered to prevent several diseases and undesirable behaviors, in addition to unwanted puppies.
Adult Dogs Up to 7 Years of Age
Annual wellness exams are recommended for healthy, active adult dogs between one and seven years old.
During your adult dog's exam, your vet will examine your canine companion from head to toe to check for early signs of illness or other issues, like eye conditions, parasites, or tooth decay.
Your vet will also administer any vaccines that may be required, discuss your dog's diet and nutritional needs with you, recommend appropriate parasite protection, and discuss any training or behavioral issues you might be noticing.
If your veterinarian identifies any signs of emerging health issues, they will explain these to you and recommend next steps.
Senior Dogs
Most dogs are typically considered senior or geriatric after the age of about eight years old. In the case of giant breeds such as Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, Mastiffs, and Saint Bernards, they should be considered senior after the age of five and will require more frequent preventive care.
Since many canine eye conditions, diseases and injuries tend to be more common in older dogs, we recommend taking your senior dog to the vet every six months. Twice-yearly wellness check-ups for your senior dog will include all of the elements of a regular wellness check, but with a few added diagnostic tests to provide extra insight into your pet's overall health.
Some diagnostic tests your vet may recommend for your senior dog include blood tests and urinalysis to check for early signs of problems such as kidney disease or diabetes.
Geriatric care for pets also requires being more proactive in your approach to keeping your pet comfortable as age-related issues such as joint pain become more common. In terms of eye health, cataracts often develop. If you have a senior dog, ask your vet how often you should bring your pet in for an examination.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.